After decades as a paramedic, Mark Beaulieu witnessed firsthand the anguish of loss. To assist others in grieving, he established a “wind phone” in the woods—a calm spot where people can exchange their thoughts and recollections of loved ones who have died. Mark and his wife have spent the last few years investigating hiking routes near their home in Ontario as part of their quest for a healthy living.

Along the way, they came across a place that soon became their favorite. Mark felt it was the ideal location to put up a “wind phone”—a project he believed would bring solace to individuals dealing with loss.”I was surfing through social media one day when I came across an article about a tsunami that occurred in Japan. The tsunami wrecked this one town. The only item left standing in this location was a telephone. “And so this gentleman decided to call it a wind phone,” Mark tells PEOPLE.

He secretly set up the wind phone in March, first keeping it to himself. He kept his plans private, even from his wife. When she asked what he planned to do with the ancient dial phone in their garage, he merely smiled and said he had an idea. Faced with his own emotional challenges and a desire to find a method to heal while also assisting others struggling with bereavement, his goal was straightforward: if the initiative could help even one or two people, it would be worthwhile.

Mark unveiled the wind phone to his wife during a fall trek, showing her the device and explaining its purpose.She was astonished he had followed through on the plan. Shortly after, he shared the concept with his daughter, Sydney, who recorded a video of the phone while walking and put it on TikTok. The video instantly became viral. At first, Mark didn’t think much of the video, but everything changed when his daughter, Sydney, texted him, “Dad, you’re famous.”

She added that the TikTok video went viral, beginning with approximately 16,000 views. Mark was skeptical, but the video had already received over a million views by the following day. Sydney believes the TikTok video went viral, particularly during the holiday season, when individuals often experience more intense feelings of loss.

Mark agrees, stating that the video resonated because it addressed sadness in a meaningful way. Commenters praised Beaulieu’s project and suggested ways to make the environment more pleasant for mourners.Ideas included adding minor elements to make the area more welcoming to guests. Mark was inspired by a proposal to incorporate wind chimes into the area, which he thought complimented the wind phone nicely.

Other suggestions, such as adding a box of Kleenex or a book, prompted him to install a small storage container to keep items dry. The area now has wind chimes, a book, and a picture album where visitors can leave words or images. Although some have urged him to look into what has been added, he believes the place is intended to be a personal and private experience.

While he does not anticipate many people using the notepad or leaving a photo, he believes it is important to provide the choice. Finally, Mark envisions the facility as a tranquil location where people can reconnect with lost loved ones. Mark designed the wind phone with no expectations, hoping it would help him and others in similar situations.

He’s been pleasantly surprised by the increased interest, with individuals reaching out for help on how to make their own. Beaulieu has been delighted to share resources with them. He and his daughter are thrilled for the wonderful feedback, especially how much the initiative resonated with individuals who discovered it through the video.

Sydney has been very moved by the encouraging comments, adding that the majority of feedback has been positive, with only a few negative responses. “For me, any bit of help I can push towards other people is it,” says Mark. “If I can help one person deal with grief and death and dying, all those kinds of things, that’s all I’m looking for.”Itaru Sasaki of Japan designed the Wind Phone as a personal endeavor to cope with the death of his cousin to cancer.

Sasaki set up a disconnected rotary phone in a phone booth in his garden to feel more connected to his cousin. He called it “Kaze No Denwa,” or “The Wind Phone.” After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, Sasaki relocated the phone booth to a windy hill near Ōtsuchi, inviting mourners to use it to contact with their departed loved ones. This act brought solace to people who were grieving.

Today, the Wind Phone is seen as a symbol of perseverance and healing. People from all over the world come here to find peace and closure, inspired by Sasaki’s initiative, which has generated similar projects around the globe. Sasaki and his wife continue to maintain the Wind Phone at Bell Gardia’s Garden, with help from a nonprofit foundation.

Here’s Sydney’s viral TikTok video with her father’s wind phone:

@sydneybeaulieu What should we add to it? #grief #holiday ♬ Save My Soul – noahrinker